Mandhana Signs Pre-Draft Overseas Contract with Adelaide Strikers

Smriti Mandhana was the first-ever Indian cricketer to sign a pre-draft overseas contract for the Women’s Big Bash League. She will be seen playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the upcoming seasons, further adding to the feathers in her already glittering cap.

The Adelaide Strikers signing Mandhana means a fourth WBBL team for her, having previously appeared in the competition for the Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder. Every different stint added to her growth as a cricketer and brought experience to her game. With this new deal, Mandhana assumes the role of being versatile and committed to the game.

Smriti Mandhana Signs with Adelaide Strikers

Photo byJohn OswaldonUnsplash

One of the exciting things about Mandhana’s new contract, though, is that she reunites with coach Luke Williams, who was in charge at Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With Williams now at the helm of affairs at Adelaide Strikers, he had guided Mandhana and RCB to the WPL 2024 title. That successful partnership in the company of RCB reiterates how well both parties have gotten along and respect one another.

She is steeped in WBBL history, having represented multiple franchises over the years. In the 2016-17 season, she was part of the Brisbane Heat; during 2018-19, she played for the Hobart Hurricanes, and then there was the Sydney Thunder in 2021. Opting out of the 2022 edition due to workload issues and missing the inaugural player draft for the 2023 edition, her return to the league is highly awaited.

Anticipation for the Forthcoming Season

One can sense the excitement on Mandhana’s face after sealing the deal to join a team that has tasted success in plenty in the recent past. I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team with a history of success like the Strikers, said Mandhana. And her excitement was clear when she spoke about getting back with Luke Williams and continuing their already successful partnership.

Luke Williams expressed his delight at the fact while welcoming Mandhana. He said that Smriti will be a massive inclusion from a technical, experience,, and strategic perspective. Smriti is a brilliant talent. We are excited to have her around. And we do not doubt that she can elevate our levels of performance, said Williams. His words can indeed have a promise for the upcoming season of Strikers.

Success and Recognition of Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana is a proud cricket player and only the second in the game’s history to win two Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Awards after Ellyse Perry. In cricket, both on-field performance and leadership skills establish her as an asset to any team. Now that she has come into a new role with the Adelaide Strikers, the opportunity for those great talents to shine once again seems right.

Apart from Mandhana, there are two other Indian cricketers, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, who are also strong contenders. This showcases the increasing influence of Indian players on the world cricket stage. All eyes are on Mandhana, with the onus totally on her to deliver the goods for the Adelaide Strikers.

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Article originally written by Ifra Tabassum